In the Disney movie ‘Inside Out’, we see the interactions of different emotions inside a child. Each emotion is represented by a character. The character Joy cannot accept Sadness in the beginning. But towards the end of the movie, child grew up and became more mature. Her emotions became more complex. Joy can be mixed with other emotions. The child learned to accept other emotions.
In the Gospel of John, we also see a lot of mixed emotions. Let’s have a recap of the previous chapters:
- John 12: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, wept, predicted his own death.
- John 13: Jesus washed disciples’ feet, predicted betrayal and Peter's denial.
- John 14: Jesus comforted disciples and promised the Holy Spirit. He predicted his departure and return.
- John 15: Jesus said, “I am the vine. Remain in me.” “The world will hate you”. He also promised the Holy Spirit.
- John 16: Jesus spoke about persecution, promised the Holy Spirit, and promised sorrow will turn to joy because he has overcome the world.
But before we talk about joy, let's clarify what ‘joy’ does NOT mean?
- It does not mean pretending to be happy when you’re sad.
- It does not mean you should not be sad.
- It means you have eternal hope no matter what your circumstances are. It’s to know for sure God is with you and you have nothing to fear.
16 Jesus continued, “In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me.”
17 After they heard this, some of his disciples spoke to one another. They said, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me’? And what does he mean by saying, ‘I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about these things. So he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant? Didn’t you understand when I said, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me’? 20 What I’m about to tell you is true. You will weep and mourn while the world is full of joy. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a baby has pain. That’s because her time to give birth has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a baby has been born into the world. 22 That’s the way it is with you. Now it’s your time to be sad. But I will see you again. Then you will be full of joy. And no one will take away your joy. 23 When that day comes, you will no longer ask me for anything. What I’m about to tell you is true. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete.
25 “I have not been speaking to you plainly. But a time is coming when I will speak clearly. Then I will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 When that day comes, you will ask for things in my name. I am not saying I will ask the Father instead of you asking him. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me. He also loves you because you have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking plainly. You are using examples that are clear. 30 Now we can see that you know everything. You don’t even need anyone to ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you believe now?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming when you will be scattered and go to your own homes. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me all alone. But I am not really alone. My Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world.”
Jesus said, “In a little while, you will no longer see me. Then after a little while, you will see me.”
How does it make you feel if someone you love says this to you?
It’s both unsettling and comforting. It’s scary because he’s leaving for an unknown period of time. But it’s also comforting because he’s coming back. But it is still full of uncertainty.
Jesus made 4 promises in verses 20-24:
- Your sadness will turn to joy.
- You will be full of joy and no one will take away your joy.
- My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.
- Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete.
Group Discussion 1:
Why did Jesus make many promises to his disciples? Is it easy for you to believe in these promises? Why?
The analogy Jesus uses here is a mother giving birth. Giving birth is a very painful process. But for the mother, the joy of having a baby is far greater than the pain itself. This greater joy gives the mother a reason and strength to endure the pain. And the pain is only short-lived, while the joy is long term. The thing that causes pain is the same thing that brings much greater joy.
If you have never given birth, you may think of other similar examples in real life. I have renovated my flat. The process was difficult. There was dust and a bad smell covering every corner of the flat. But the prospect of having a new, beautiful kitchen and bathroom afterwards provides much more joy in the long run than the troubles of the renovation.
You probably have seen many construction sites around Manchester. The greatest one in central Manchester is the big Town Hall. It has been under renovation since 2018 and will not complete until 2026! Eight years of renovation! When you look inside, you see all the mess and dirt on the site and lots of workers working tirelessly. But on the temporary walls surrounding the construction site, you see the vision for the future of the building project and how beautiful the building would be. The hope of having this building is the reason for enduring the troubles now and for looking forward to the future enjoyment of the building later when it's completed.
This is what our lives are like today.
By the coming Easter Sunday, the disciples would have full joy when they met Jesus who had risen from death.
Jesus understood his disciples and what they were experiencing at the time. He knew they needed comfort, assurance and, most important of all, eternal hope in God. Jesus did not remove their troubles or problems. Instead, he gave very clear promises for the future.
He promised that no one would take away our joy. How could Jesus know this? Because he is in control of our destiny. His upcoming death on the cross and resurrection means he has own victory over all powers of darkness, sin and death. He has paid the full price of our sin so that we have complete restoration in our relationship with God. Nothing can cancel the sacrifice Jesus has made on the cross with his blood.
When Jesus said “It is finished” on the cross, this was what he meant. The victory is already won. It’s not an unknown future. It’s a historical fact already.
Let’s continue to read verses 25-33.
What do we learn about Jesus in this passage?
- Jesus knew and understood everything in the disciples’ mind. He knew their questions, confusion, fear and most important of all, their future in God.
- Jesus did not scold the disciples. Instead, he comforted them and helped them understand at their own pace.
- Jesus gave peace in times of trouble.
- He has won all battles.
Group Discussion 2:
What is stopping you from having eternal joy? How does this story help you have joy?
This is a true story: I was visiting a museum in Greece with lots of ancient Greek and Roman artefacts. My group was guided by a local archaeologist. As he approached a statue, he ignored all the boundary lines surrounding the statue, stepped into the forbidden zone, placed his arms around the statue and hugged it. He even moved his fingers around the whole statue. The museum staff saw it and was freaked out. She immediately ran towards us and shouted at us, "Take your hands off the statue! You're not allowed to touch it!" My tour guide looked at her and yelled something back in Greek. The museum staff looked shocked, and she turned back in silence, allowing him to continue to touch the statue without restrictions. I had no idea he said because he said it in Greek. After the tour, my tour guide told us what he said to the staff: He said, "I was the archaeologist who dug up this statue from under the dirt."
Why does Jesus have a final say in your eternal hope and joy? How can Jesus have the authority to grant you a hope and joy that is without restrictions? Because he was the saviour who saved you from darkness and death.
